Petunia plant named &#39;dlitt258&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  cultivar named ‘DLITT258’ is disclosed, characterized by a compact plant habit. The new variety has a distinctive, small, purple flowers with darker veins. The new variety is a  Petunia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Petunia sensu Wijsman

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DLITT258’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Petunia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Petuniavarieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting inthis new variety was made during November 2008.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referredto as Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘Pe-3031’ The pollen parent is theunpatented proprietary seedling variety referred to as Petunia sensuWijsman ‘Pe-169’. The new variety was discovered in March 2009 by theinventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2008 crossing, in aresearch greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DLITT258’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel in March 2009 and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DLITT258’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DLITT258’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DLITT258’ as a new and distinct Petuniacultivar:

1. Compact plant habit

2. Small flowers

3. Distinctive purple flowers with dark veins.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DLITT258’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘Pe-3031’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DLITT258’ producemore lateral branches. Additionally, the seed parent produces whiteflowers whereas ‘DLITT258’ produces purple flowers with darker veins.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DLITT258’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘Pe-169’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DLITT258’ produce,smaller flowers. Additionally, the new variety produces purple flowerswith darker veins whereas the pollen parent produces blue flowers.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DLITT258’ are comparable to the varietyPetunia ‘DANCASDEEP’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,020. The two Petuniavarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics however, thenew variety ‘DLITT258’ differs in having purple flowers, compared to redflowers on this comparator variety. Additionally ‘DLITT258’ producesmuch smaller flowers and more lateral branches than ‘DANCASDEEP’. Plantsof ‘DLITT258’ have a compact plant habit, whereas plants of ‘DANCASDEEP’have a trailing plant habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DLITT258’ are comparable to the unpatentedvariety Petunia ‘Cascadias White’. The two Petunia varieties are similarin most horticultural characteristics however, the new variety‘DLITT258’ differs in having purple flowers, compared to white flowerson this comparator variety. Additionally ‘DLITT258’ produces smallerflowers and slightly more lateral branches than ‘DANCASDEEP’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DLITT258’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm pot. Ageof the plant photographed is approximately 7 weeks from a rootedcutting. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloomof ‘DLITT258’. The photographs were taken using conventional techniquesand although colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DLITT258’ plants grown outdoors during Autumnin Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from20° C. to 35° C. during the day and from 17° C. to 23° C. during thenight. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘DLITT258’-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—10 to 14 days at approximately            18-35° C.        -   Root description.—fibrous.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 30 days.        -   Growth habit.—Compact.        -   Pot size of plant described.—12 cm.        -   Height.—10 cm.        -   Plant spread.—20 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Rapid.        -   Branching characteristics.—Very highly branched.        -   Length of primary lateral branches.—10 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.1 cm.        -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—25-30.        -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Diameter:            0.3 cm. Color: Near RHS Green 139-A Texture: Pubescent            Strength: Flexible.        -   Internodes length.—2-4 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Leaf: Arrangement: Opposite Quantity: Approximately 10            per branch. Average Length: 3 cm. Average Width: 1.5 cm.            Shape of blade: Oval Apex: Rounded Base: Acute Margin:            Entire Pubescence: Pubescent Angle of attachment: 90°            Aspect: Flat Color: Young foliage upper side: RHS 139-A            Young foliage under side: RHS 139-A Mature foliage upper            side: RHS 139-A Mature foliage under side: RHS 139-A            Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation color upper side: RHS 139-A            Venation color under side: RHS 139-A Petiole: Not present.-   Flower:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—All year in Mediterranean            climates.        -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—10-20 days.        -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Terminal, Single,            Salver form, Erect.        -   Rate of flower opening.—2 to 3 days from bud to fully opened            flower.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—3-6 days.        -   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant.—Approximately 30.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—self-cleaning.        -   Bud.—Shape: tubular Length: 2 cm Diameter: 0.3 cm Color RHS:            Greyed-Purple N187B.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: 2.5 cm. Flower tube length: 2.5 cm.            Flower tube diameter at distal end: 1 cm. Flower tube            diameter at proximal end: 0.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Length from throat: 1 cm. Width: 1.4 cm. Quantity: 5            Texture: Smooth Apex: Blunt Margin: Entire.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet 86C with            veins 86A Lower surface: Near RHS Violet 86C with veins 86B            Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet 86C with veins            86A Lower surface: Near RHS Violet 86C with veins 86B Flower            throat (inside): Near RHS Purple 79A Flower throat, veins:            Near RHS Purple 79A Flower tube (outside): Near RHS Purple            79B Flower tube, veins: Near RHS Purple 79B Fading Petals            fading to: Near RHS Purple 79C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 Shape: Elliptic Length: 1 cm            Width: 0.1 cm Apex: Truncate Base: Cuneate Margin: Entire            Texture: Lustrous Color: Upper Surface: Near RHS Green 139A            Lower Surface: Near RHS Green 139A.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 2.5 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS Green            139-A Orientation: 45 degree, straight.        -   Fragrance.—No.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5 Filament length: 1 cm        -   Anthers.—Length: 0.1 cm Shape: Round Color: RHS Yellow 11-A            Pollen: Color: RHS Violet-Blue 94B Quantity: Abundant.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: 1 cm. Style: Length: 1 cm. Color:            RHS Green 139-C Stigma: Shape: Round Color: RHS Green 139-C            Ovary Color: RHS Green 139-A.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Numerous minute dark seeds.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to Petunia have            been observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates            temperatures between 5 to 40° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘DLITT258’ as herein illustrated and described. 